Becoming a private hire vehicle driver (or taxi driver) can be a great way to make a living. The entry requirements for this job are reasonably low. All you need is to have had a driver’s license for over a year, or three years in London, and to apply for the necessary documents and private hire licences. Having your own vehicle will make the job more profitable overall, rather than relying on renting or working on commission for someone else. But what are the pros and cons of being a driver, and is it a career for you?
Do You Like Driving?
This should be the first question to ask yourself. Private vehicle hire drivers spend long hours on the road on a daily basis. Therefore the number one rule before taking the job is to actually enjoy driving. You should have a passion for it, so that you do not get bored and unhappy. With private hire or taxi driving, the pay is not always exceptional and the hours are long. But at least you are on the road and not stuck behind a desk!
Do You Like People?
This should be your second question. Private hire driving is essentially a customer service job. You will be dealing with people from all walks of life every day. The people can be the best and worst aspect of the job. Most that you meet will cause you no problem, and every now and again you will meet lovely people who offer you great conversation and generous tips.
Then there’s the unruly bunch who will make your life difficult and your job hellish. From people refusing to pay, to drunks misbehaving and making a mess of your car, people really can be a nightmare – and sometimes even dangerous. Being a driver will mean having a lot of patience and tolerance for these people and situations.
Job Security and Pay
Of course, with any job you want to know how well it pays and how secure you can be. This all depends on how busy you are and whether the market is saturated with other drivers. If you live in a busy place, you may be able to make a decent living, but in most cases you can expect to spend quite a lot of time sitting around waiting for calls – and this chips in to your hourly rate
The typical wage for a driver in the US is $26k per year, but the hourly rate is around $12. In this respect, pay can be irregular and even low. To make matters worse, automation is threatening the industry, with drivers in the category of jobs most likely to be replaced by machines. There is more than a 97% chance that vehicles and drivers will be automated in the future. Thankfully, for now at least, the job is fairly secure, though you will probably have to work long hours during the nights and weekends to make up for poor rates in the day.
Self Employment
One of the key benefits of driving a private hire vehicle for a living is that you can be your own boss. Self employment can be very desirable if you can make it work. Drivers have the freedom to choose their own hours though, as stated before, working nights and weekends is more lucrative. Drivers can work with operators (who take a cut of the profits) or use apps like Uber to source custom. Most drivers are self employed and work as subcontractors to firms. Owning your own vehicle, and making sure it is reliable, will help you to rely less on other people, and therefore make more money for yourself.
Taxi and private vehicle hire driving can be an excellent job if you love driving and you like to meet new people. The choice of hours and working for yourself is another benefit. You just have to be able to cope with the variation in pay, long hours, traffic and other drawbacks.
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